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Stevenson 34, Wheaton North 14

Future Looks Good After Stevenson Erases Its Past

There was very little talk about Stevenson's never having advanced to the third round of the playoffs in seven previous tries. There didn't need to be.

The Patriots reached the final eight Friday with a 34-14 victory over Wheaton North in a Class 6A game in Lincolnshire. Each season brings a different team, coach Bill Mitz figured, so the past doesn't mean much. It still meant something to his players.

"Coach downplayed it," said senior running back Kyle Brandt, who scored four touchdowns and ran for 160 yards. "We try to focus game-by-game. This was another one. They didn't have to say anything. For me, personally, this is a great weight off my shoulder."

The ninth-ranked Patriots got their 11th straight victory the way they got the first 10. They ground down Wheaton North with a punishing running game and a tough defense. Brandt wasn't even his team's leading ground-gainer. Steve Clancy gained 175 yards on 19 carries while Brandt had 18 carries.

"We saw some things in the films where we thought we could attack, and we took advantage of them," said Mitz. "The defense did a good job, too. Our lines really came off the ball."

Stevenson took a 14-0 lead after one period. The Patriots, with Brandt and Clancy doing the work, kept the ball on the ground and the clock running.

"Our line did a tremendous job," said Clancy, who scored on a 67-yard run to make it 28-0 late in the third quarter. "They have been doing it all year. They stepped up even more tonight and controlled the line."

It didn't take the Patriots long to establish themselves. After Mike Jaroscak intercepted a Joey Humay pass and returned it 20 yards to the Wheaton 45, Stevenson needed just five plays to score. On fourth and 1 at the 31, Brandt popped through excellent blocks by senior guard Sean Coughlin and junior guard Josh Kilker for the score.

"On fourth and short, they put a lot of guys on the line," said Brandt. "Literally, no one touched me. All I had to do was run in a straight line.

On the next Stevenson possession, it took just six plays to go 47 yards. Clancy gained 31 on the first play of the drive and Brandt scored from the 6.

"They were tough," said Wheaton North coach Mike Oleszek. "We worked against it all week, and they did a good job. They just beat us up front."